Assemblymember Haney’s AB 2475 stops people who have committed violent crimes and have been diagnosed with a severe mental disorder from being released into the community without proper supervision and treatment.
- Nate Allbee
- (415) 756-0561
Sacramento – Assemblymember Matt Haney’s (D-San Francisco) AB 2475, Preventing Unsupervised Psychiatric Releases bill, has been signed by Governor Newsom and will go into effect statewide on January 1, 2025. This bill allows state hospitals to hold patients for up to 30 additional days before they are released to allow law enforcement and public health officials to work together to find housing, medication access, and mental health treatment. The bill earned strong bi-partisan support throughout the legislative process, having passed out of the Assembly floor with a 72 to 0 vote, and the State Senate with a 40 to 0 unanimous vote off the consent calendar.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in the six years between 2018 and 2023, 1,656 people were released from a state hospital. In all of those cases, the Department of State Hospitals, State Parole, and local agencies were only given five days before the release of the individual to coordinate the appropriate housing, supervision, medication, and mental health services prior to a parolee being released and placed back in the community.
“If a person is being held in custody because their mental illness led them to commit a violent crime, the state has an absolute obligation and responsibility to make sure that they aren't released without ensuring adequate support, planning, and treatment,” said Haney. “There is an unrealistic expectation that all agencies involved have the resources and bandwidth to safely place a person back in the community within five dangerously short days. This bill is a common-sense public safety measure and will help ensure that people get essential ongoing treatment when released.”
“This law will help increase safety for our entire community. More time to prepare for the discharge of individuals being released from state hospitals to state parole will help ensure that patients are connected to services and receive adequate support,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “I’m proud to have sponsored this legislation, and would like to thank Assemblymember Haney for authoring this bill and Governor Newsom for signing.”
“By prioritizing both accountability and support, we can prevent repeat offenses among individuals with mental illnesses and enhance public safety while addressing the root causes of crime, ultimately creating safer communities across California,” said Haney.
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